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Reinforcing the territorial approach

(26 January 2018) - What are the outcomes and what is the possible future for community-led local development (CLLD) within the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), which has significantly changed the situation of fisheries, aquaculture and coastal areas? What added value does it bring to Europe? Yves Champetier (AEIDL / FARNET Support Unit) advocates reinforcing the territorial approach.

According to Yves Champetier, an integrated territorial approach, targeted at all economic sectors present in coastal areas, could be proposed, focusing on the challenges posed by climate change and the opportunities offered by energy transition and blue growth.

In order to fully exploit the potential of the fisheries sector – rather than forgetting what is often a very small sector – the best approach would be to allow Fisheries Local Action Groups a large degree of autonomy, while integrating the sector into the overall approach of the territory.

Yves Champetier also insists on the need to change the name of the programme (currently “EMFF CLLD"...) so that it is more readable, comprehensible and attractive. This territorial approach must be given a new impetus, the modalities of implementation must be revolutionised, and transnational cooperation must be strengthened. A key objective is to bring Europe closer to citizens and territories, building on their initiatives and their innovative capacities.

This article is one in a series of four written by four panellists following the workshop on "The EMFF and local perspectives", which formed part of the “Beyond 2020: Supporting Europe’s Coastal Territories” conference organised by DG MARE on 12 and 13 October 2017, in Tallinn. Their aim is to trigger reflection and fuel the debate on how to improve CLLD intervention. The other articles can be accessed on the FARNET website.